Mr. Dennis Kass, 2016 Fellow

Teaching in a high-poverty high school, Mr. Dennis Kass is known for using contemporarily relevant content and instruction to engage students in meaningful social studies curriculum. One example is the Modern-Day Slavery Advocacy Project where students are challenged to conduct real-world advocacy projects on globally relevant social problems, such as poverty and inequality. He coaches two Model UN teams to help students experience the world outside of their neighborhoods. A frequent traveler, Kass incorporates his learning on world culture and issues into his curriculum. He took students to Japan to study global nuclear proliferation issues and the history of nuclear weapons. Equally as impressive is his work in the community. He appreciates the struggles of students and their families and provides free legal service and helps families experiencing homelessness and domestic violence. Without a doubt, Kass has transformed the way that his students approach academics, and life.